Lecture Notes: Foraging Behavior in Animals

Introduction

• Foraging: Search for food within an animal's environment
  • Essential for survival and reproduction
  • Involves a cost-benefit analysis: balancing energy expenditure with energy gain

Goals of Foraging

• Maximize energy yield while minimizing energy expenditure
• Foraging includes various behaviors:
  • Searching for food (e.g., antelope eating grass)
  • Stalking prey (e.g., tiger chasing antelope)

Foraging Strategies

Solitary Foraging

• Animals look for food alone
• Example: Tigers

Group Foraging

• Animals look for food in groups
• Example: Lions
  • Pros:
    • Can take down larger or more aggressive prey
  • Cons:
    • Competition within the group, especially when resources are scarce

Learning Foraging Behavior

• Foraging behavior influenced by genetics and learning
• Animal learning:
  • Young members of a group learn by observing and copying adults
  • Learn how to hunt and what to hunt